Whereas: Stories from the People’s House
As the United States expanded westward over the course of the 19th century, many new people became part of the country. The role of these new residents increased, although not without challenges. House records document these early events and the journey of Hispanic Americans in what became the Southwest United States, and in Congress.
National History Day 2023: “Frontiers”
As students prepare to participate in this year’s National History Day (NHD), the History, Art & Archives team has compiled topics and resources to inspire and assist aspiring researchers. More >
Recent Artifacts Online, Summer 2022
Spend a lazy afternoon browsing the House Collection. From cartoons to portraits to cubicles, it’s all here online. Here are a few of our most recently digitized treasures. More >
Edition for Educators—Libraries
America’s earliest legislators were voracious readers. Congress quickly evinced interest in creating its own libraries. This Edition for Educators explores the connections between the House of Representatives, congressional libraries, and the library system at large. More >
The Legacy of a Lie: Floor Fight and a Gunshot
On April 23, 1844, as the House sat in the Committee of the Whole to debate a tariff measure, the presiding officer recognized John White, a Whig from Kentucky, who had served as Speaker of the House in the prior Congress. White quickly veered off script, and the chamber quickly spun out of control. As chamber officials rushed to restore order, a gun shot rang out at the rear of the chamber and a Capitol Police officer was left gravely injured. More >
Adele Fassett, Washington’s Trendsetting Woman Portraitist
The story of how the Appropriations Committee ended up two 19th-century portraits of chairs entwines itself with the career of the woman who created them, Adele Fassett. More >